Things To Do near Shapley Common
Meldon Viaduct, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
High above the West Okement River, spanning the West Okement Valley, is Meldon Viaduct. Part of the Granite Way, there are superb views of the wooded valley below and the high moors to the east and south east. Meldon Reservoir is to the south. In the area, we'd recommend the Yes Tor and High Will...
Cramber Tor, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
Cramber Tor is an isolated rocky outcrop in the popular Princetown area. Situated away from the many popular walking and cycling routes that run between Princetown and Burrator Reservoir, we've always had the tor to ourselves when visiting even in peak holiday season. The views are wonderful....
Merrivale Cists, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
There are many burial cairns at Merrivale. In addition, there are two cists. A cist is a bit like a granite coffin. On Dartmoor, cists come in all shapes and sizes. One of the National Park's largest cists is just south of the largest stone row at Merrivale. One of Dartmoor's most dramatic is situat...
Merrivale Stone Rows, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
Two long stone rows dominate the Merrivale prehistoric complex. They are separated by a leat. The stone row closest to the B3357 and to the north of the leat is about 180 metres or 590 feet long. The stone row to the south of the leat is about 260 metres or 850 feet long. A burial cist and circ...
Merrivale (English Heritage), Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
If time's restricted and you want to discover Dartmoor's internationally important prehistory then head for Merrivale. Stone rows, cairns, hut circles, cists, a standing stone and a stone circle are packed into a small area of moorland between Princetown and Tavistock on the western side of Dartmoor...
Devonport Leat, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
Devonport Leat is arguably the most impressive leat on Dartmoor and the one you're most likely to walk along or cross if you're exploring the National Park in depth. The leat has multiple headweirs and winds its way from its most northerly point on Dartmoor's north moor to the south western border o...
Best Dartmoor Prehistoric Sites, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
Stone Circles Scorhill Stone Circle. Very popular stone circle on the moor above Chagford. Head for Batworthy Corner and walk across. White Moor Stone Circle. Remote stone circle on the high north moor. The setting is stunning but it takes effort to visit. Nine Maidens Stone Circle. Impress...
Meldon Woods, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
Meldon is a hamlet near Okehampton on the north west border of Dartmoor National Park. The local reservoir, viaduct and quarry are named after the hamlet. So too is a stretch of woodland through which the West Okement River flows. It's a beautiful place full of wildlife, flowers and local history. M...
Huntingdon Barrow or Heap of Sinners, South Brent, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
Dartmoor is blessed with some super place names. There's Deadmans Bottom and Grim's Grave, the Crock of Gold and The Ten Commandments Stones. Our favourite is the Heap of Sinners north west of the Avon Dam Reservoir on Dartmoor's south moor. The location lives up to the name. The barrow sits at t...
West Okement Valley, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
The West Okement River rises by the remote Cranmere Pool on Dartmoor's north moor. The river tumbles through the Upper West Okement Valley past Black-a-Tor Copse National Nature Reserve on its way to Meldon Reservoir. Beyond the reservoir dam is what we refer to as the West Okement Valley. It r...
Meldon Woods Bluebell Circular Walk, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
This is one of the most impressive stretches of bluebell woodland we've experienced in Dartmoor National Park. Roughly speaking, the bluebells are thick between Meldon Viaduct and the car parking area on the west side of the woods. We can't recommend this area highly enough to bluebell fans. Ther...
Newleycombe Cross, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
A lake on Dartmoor is a stream or brook. Newleycombe Lake is a stream running down to Burrator Reservoir. It cuts a valley that was also shaped by the tin mining industry. The valley is lined with prehistoric and medieval attractions including the extraordinary Down Tor Stone Row (Hingston Hill Sone...
Okehampton Arcade, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
Okehampton is a major gateway town to Dartmoor National Park. In addition to visitor attractions such as its English Heritage castle and superb museum, there are plenty of restaurants, cafes and shops. Okehampton Arcade is packed with shops selling a wide range of products from outdoor kit to antiqu...
Coombe Down, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
We include Coombe Down as a point of reference. The King Way and Rattlebrook Peatworks Railway (Disused) run across the down. It rises to Corn Ridge to the north east. To the north and north west it runs into Lake Down which drops down to Lake Viaduct. The Granite Way runs over the viaduct. A track...
Plym Head, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
Walk the South West Coast Path between Plymouth and Bigbury-on-Sea/Bantham and you'll encounter the stunning estuaries of many famous Devon rivers. They all rise on Dartmoor's south plateau relatively close to one another. The headwaters of the River Plym are on Crane Hill near Erme Head and within...